Improvement in horse-collars



NITEDV TATES EDWARD WHITNEY, or ALBANY, NEW YORK.

'I IMPROVEMENT IN HORSE-COLLARS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 10,4110, dated October27, 1863.

To all whom t may concern,.-

Beit known that I, EDWARD WHITNEY, of Albany, in the county of Albanyand State of New York, have invented a new and useful improvement in theconstruction of horsecollars, by means of which an even pressure orstrain is distributed over the face ofthe collar instead of being connedto one point, which is the case with collars in present use. It issimple, cheap, strong, and durable, and possesses advantages overothers,the nature of which will be clearly set forth in the followingspeciiication.

My invention consists in applying to the outside of an ordinary collartwo plates or shields situated one on each side, and made of cast orwrought iron or steel, and conforming to the outside shape of thecollar,and provided with a flange which tits snug up to the rim andprojects far enough beyond the hame to keep it from coming off thecollar and always retains it in its proper position, thereby protectingthe rim, keeping it in shape, and obviating the liability to break inthe throat or give out in any part.

When the horse draws, the pressure is distributed over the whole surfaceof the plate or shield from the top to bottom of collar, instead ofbeing contined to one point of draft, which racks the collar out ofshape and eX- poses it to unequal strain, thereby causing it to break inthe throat or give out in any part, or press against the horses throatso as to prevent his breathing freely,and also causes galls and soreswhich soon render him unfit for use.

The pressure on each plate or shield draws the rim from the neck andprevents the haines from squeezing, while at the same time the peculiarshape ot' the plate or shield presses the stuffing directly underinstead of away from the haine, and the harder the horse draws the lessthe rim bears against his neck,so that he can work freely withoutinjury.

The stuffing of the collar can be adjusted in a very simple manner byremoving the plates or shields and cutting the shoulder-piece, af-

ter which they can be replaced and cover the 0pening,leaving the collarthhe same as before. The size can also be adjusted as well as the shape,and necessary regulation can be done by the driver without applying to aharnessmaker.

Should the horse be vpreviously galled, the

hard stuffing can ybe easily removed from over the sore, and soft woolor other material inserted. The face of the collar will then bearagainst the whole shoulder and leave the sore part free to heal.

The plates or shields are in some cases securedto the collar by rivetingthrough the under part of the rim; but when the horses head is large andthe collar is closed at the top, the plate or shield can be attached t0each hame.

It will be clearly seen that the shoulder-V piece, as also the wholecollar, is prevented from injury and protected, land the wearing throughof the leather where the draft-hook comes is entirely prevented, thefriction is removed from the shoulder, the collar can be made with lessstock and cheap material and labor, and will prove more durable thanothers.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, and to enable othersskilled in the art to make and use the same, I will now proceed todescribe it,and certify that the accompanying drawings are a correctrepresentation ofthe same, like letters referring to like parts...

Figure l represents a perspective view of my collar with the plates orshields applied; Fig. 2, the outside view of one of the plates orshields; Fig. 3, the inside view of thesame, Fig. 4t represents theplate or shield attached to a hame'.

A, Fig. 1, is the collar, provided with the usual rim, B; C, a plate orshield applied to the shoulder-piece on one side of the collar, andprovided, with a flange, D, which lits against the rim B. Acorresponding plate or shield, E, (not shown on the drawings) is appliedto the other side of collar A, and rests upon the shoulder-piece in asimilar manner, F, the haine, which ts on the plate of shield C, and iskept in place by ange D, Fig. 3; H, Fig. l, the other haine, which fitson the plate or shield E, (not shown,)andhas a suitable one to keep itin position; G G', draftstaples K, the breast-strap rings.

I claim- The arrangement of a metallic plate placed on each side oftheshoulder-piece, and connected either to the collar or hames,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

Witnesses. EDWARD WHITNEY.

WILLIAM PARK, BARTH. G. HAOKETT.

